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Chapter 10: Crossfire
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-10 02:10:57
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BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 11: Trust in the Crosshairs
"You think I don’t see through your lies?" Damian's voice was low and menacing, each word cutting into the tense silence like a blade.My heart pounded, but I refused to cower. "I wasn’t lying to you, Damian. I was trying to protect you."He let out a sharp laugh, devoid of humor. "Protect me? By meeting Evan Reid behind my back? Do you even hear yourself, Naomi?"I stepped forward, my breath catching at the fury etched into his face. "I had to do something. He’s not going to stop until he destroys you. You won’t listen to me, and you won’t trust anyone. What choice did I have?"Damian’s fists clenched at his sides. "You had a choice. The choice not to betray me.""I didn’t betray you!" I shouted, my voice breaking under the weight of his accusation. "I went there to find out what he was planning, for you, for us—"His eyes darkened. "There is no 'us,' Naomi. There never was."The words hit me harder than I expected, but I lifted my chin, determined not to let him see the hurt. "That’
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 12: A Dangerous Game
"You shouldn't be here," Olivia hissed, glancing nervously at the shadows lurking beyond the dim alley. The air smelled of damp concrete and desperation."I had no choice," I shot back, folding my arms. "Damian won't listen to me. He thinks I’m still working with Evan." My voice wavered, but I held her gaze. "You said you had a lead—something that could help him."Olivia's lips thinned into a grim line. "I did. But you're not going to like it.""Try me." My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to appear calm.Olivia leaned in, her voice low. "The key to Damian’s empire isn’t just numbers and contracts. It’s tied to Charlotte’s past. There are documents, hidden accounts...and something more personal. Something that could either destroy Damian or save him."My stomach twisted. Charlotte’s past? What could she possibly have that held so much power? "Where do I start?" I asked, my voice firmer now.She hesitated. "There's a storage unit downtown under Charlotte's alias. But
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 13: Betrayal Unmasked
"You really think we’ll find anything tonight?" I whispered as Damian’s arm tightened around my waist. The opulent charity gala shimmered around us — dazzling lights, elegant gowns, and champagne flutes held by the city’s elite. But beneath the glitz and glamor lurked tension as thick as fog. "We'll find out who’s been feeding Evan information," Damian said darkly, his voice just low enough for me to hear. "One way or another." I glanced around, my nerves fraying at the edges. Everywhere I looked, eyes flickered toward us, whispers trailing in their wake. I was the topic of their hushed conversations—Damian Cross’s second-choice bride who had somehow managed to stir a war between billionaires. I forced a smile, trying to ignore the burn of judgment. "They’re staring again," I muttered. "Let them." Damian’s hand slid down to the small of my back, his touch possessive and grounding. "Tonight, you're with me. That’s all that matters." A flutter of warmth battled the cold knot o
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 14: Shattered Loyalties
"Why don't you say it?" Damian’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Tell me the real reason you betrayed me." I stood beside him, heart racing as we faced the man who had once been Damian’s most trusted confidant. The secluded garden at the charity gala was dimly lit, shadows flickering across tense faces. The weight of secrets hung heavy in the air. “I didn’t betray you for Evan,” the informant sneered. His eyes gleamed with defiance, lips curling into a smirk. "You’ve been looking at the wrong enemy all along." Damian’s jaw clenched. “Speak plainly or I swear I’ll—” “Charlotte,” the man interrupted, his voice laced with triumph. “Your precious first bride orchestrated everything from the beginning.” My breath caught in my throat. Charlotte? The sister who had vanished without a trace, leaving me to take her place? My mind reeled, disbelief mingling with a pang of betrayal. “You’re lying,” Damian spat, though doubt flickered in his stormy eyes. “Am I?” The inf
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 15: The Kiss That Changes Everything
“Why did you do it, Damian?” My voice broke the silence of the car ride back to the mansion. His jaw tightened, and his hands gripped the steering wheel like he wanted to snap it in two. The city lights outside blurred as I stared at his cold profile, hoping for an answer, a crack in his armor. “Do what?” His voice was low, almost too calm. “Announce to the entire world that I’m your wife, that Charlotte has no place here anymore. Was that for me, or was it just another move in your war against her?” He slammed on the brakes, jerking the car to a sudden stop in the middle of the driveway. I gasped as he turned to face me, his dark eyes blazing with frustration. “You think I did that for her?” he growled, his voice trembling with restrained anger. “I did it because it’s the truth. You are my wife, Naomi. No one—Charlotte, Evan, or anyone else—gets to rewrite that.” I held his gaze, my breath catching at the intensity in his tone. For a moment, the raw emotion in his eyes left
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 1: The Substitute Bride
“Where is she?” my mother’s voice wobbled on the edge of hysteria. “We are out of time!” “She’s gone,” my father growled. His face was a mask of fury, flushed red beneath his graying hair. “Charlotte has run off with some lowlife who promised her God knows what. I warned her, but she wouldn’t listen!” I froze at the doorway of the lavish sitting room, my heart racing. Charlotte, gone? On her wedding day? The same Charlotte who always had a way of getting what she wanted—fame, fortune, admiration? My breath caught in my throat as the weight of those words sank in. If she wasn’t here to marry Damian Cross, our family was doomed. “I can’t believe this,” my mother whispered, clutching her pearls like they were the only thing holding her upright. “The guests are already arriving. The Cross family will annihilate us. Do you know what this will do to your business, Harold?” My father’s jaw clenched. “I know exactly what it will do. That's why we have no choice.” His gaze shifted, loc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 2: The Cold Wedding Night
I step into the penthouse, the door closing behind me with a soft thud that echoes in the silence. “Welcome to your new life,” Damian's voice cuts through the stillness, sending a shiver down my spine.I swallow the lump in my throat, my hands trembling slightly. His words should have been comforting, but there’s nothing warm about them. Not when his tone feels like ice. “Your sister was supposed to be here, but she decided otherwise,” he continues his gaze hard and calculating. "Now, we have to make do with the substitute.”Substitute. The word stings more than I want to admit. I lower my gaze, unwilling to let him see how deeply it affects me. “I wasn’t given a choice,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper, but firm enough to show him I’m not completely broken yet.Damian narrows his eyes, stepping closer. “Oh, you were given a choice. A very clear one. You just chose wrong.”His words strike like a slap, and I feel my breath catch in my throat. His harshness is like a weight p
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 3: Damian’s Dangerous World
"Put on the dress I picked for you." Damian's voice was cold, leaving no room for negotiation as he stood by the doorway of the lavish guest room. I looked down at the simple, pale blue gown I'd chosen from the wardrobe earlier. "I thought this was—""It’s not," he cut me off. "If you're going to be my wife tonight, you’ll at least look the part." His words were a blade slicing through my pride.I wanted to snap back, but the weight of this new life held my tongue. My defiance wouldn’t matter to a man like Damian Cross. Instead, I reached for the shimmering black gown he’d left draped across a chair.The fabric clung to my skin like a second layer, elegant but uncomfortable. The neckline plunged more than I was used to, exposing skin I usually kept hidden. I barely recognized myself in the mirror as I adjusted the dress. When I emerged, Damian's eyes flickered briefly over me, unreadable as ever. "That'll do," he muttered, already turning toward the door. "Let’s go."We rode in sile
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-10
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BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 15: The Kiss That Changes Everything
“Why did you do it, Damian?” My voice broke the silence of the car ride back to the mansion. His jaw tightened, and his hands gripped the steering wheel like he wanted to snap it in two. The city lights outside blurred as I stared at his cold profile, hoping for an answer, a crack in his armor. “Do what?” His voice was low, almost too calm. “Announce to the entire world that I’m your wife, that Charlotte has no place here anymore. Was that for me, or was it just another move in your war against her?” He slammed on the brakes, jerking the car to a sudden stop in the middle of the driveway. I gasped as he turned to face me, his dark eyes blazing with frustration. “You think I did that for her?” he growled, his voice trembling with restrained anger. “I did it because it’s the truth. You are my wife, Naomi. No one—Charlotte, Evan, or anyone else—gets to rewrite that.” I held his gaze, my breath catching at the intensity in his tone. For a moment, the raw emotion in his eyes left
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 14: Shattered Loyalties
"Why don't you say it?" Damian’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. "Tell me the real reason you betrayed me." I stood beside him, heart racing as we faced the man who had once been Damian’s most trusted confidant. The secluded garden at the charity gala was dimly lit, shadows flickering across tense faces. The weight of secrets hung heavy in the air. “I didn’t betray you for Evan,” the informant sneered. His eyes gleamed with defiance, lips curling into a smirk. "You’ve been looking at the wrong enemy all along." Damian’s jaw clenched. “Speak plainly or I swear I’ll—” “Charlotte,” the man interrupted, his voice laced with triumph. “Your precious first bride orchestrated everything from the beginning.” My breath caught in my throat. Charlotte? The sister who had vanished without a trace, leaving me to take her place? My mind reeled, disbelief mingling with a pang of betrayal. “You’re lying,” Damian spat, though doubt flickered in his stormy eyes. “Am I?” The inf
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 13: Betrayal Unmasked
"You really think we’ll find anything tonight?" I whispered as Damian’s arm tightened around my waist. The opulent charity gala shimmered around us — dazzling lights, elegant gowns, and champagne flutes held by the city’s elite. But beneath the glitz and glamor lurked tension as thick as fog. "We'll find out who’s been feeding Evan information," Damian said darkly, his voice just low enough for me to hear. "One way or another." I glanced around, my nerves fraying at the edges. Everywhere I looked, eyes flickered toward us, whispers trailing in their wake. I was the topic of their hushed conversations—Damian Cross’s second-choice bride who had somehow managed to stir a war between billionaires. I forced a smile, trying to ignore the burn of judgment. "They’re staring again," I muttered. "Let them." Damian’s hand slid down to the small of my back, his touch possessive and grounding. "Tonight, you're with me. That’s all that matters." A flutter of warmth battled the cold knot o
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 12: A Dangerous Game
"You shouldn't be here," Olivia hissed, glancing nervously at the shadows lurking beyond the dim alley. The air smelled of damp concrete and desperation."I had no choice," I shot back, folding my arms. "Damian won't listen to me. He thinks I’m still working with Evan." My voice wavered, but I held her gaze. "You said you had a lead—something that could help him."Olivia's lips thinned into a grim line. "I did. But you're not going to like it.""Try me." My heartbeat thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to appear calm.Olivia leaned in, her voice low. "The key to Damian’s empire isn’t just numbers and contracts. It’s tied to Charlotte’s past. There are documents, hidden accounts...and something more personal. Something that could either destroy Damian or save him."My stomach twisted. Charlotte’s past? What could she possibly have that held so much power? "Where do I start?" I asked, my voice firmer now.She hesitated. "There's a storage unit downtown under Charlotte's alias. But
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 11: Trust in the Crosshairs
"You think I don’t see through your lies?" Damian's voice was low and menacing, each word cutting into the tense silence like a blade.My heart pounded, but I refused to cower. "I wasn’t lying to you, Damian. I was trying to protect you."He let out a sharp laugh, devoid of humor. "Protect me? By meeting Evan Reid behind my back? Do you even hear yourself, Naomi?"I stepped forward, my breath catching at the fury etched into his face. "I had to do something. He’s not going to stop until he destroys you. You won’t listen to me, and you won’t trust anyone. What choice did I have?"Damian’s fists clenched at his sides. "You had a choice. The choice not to betray me.""I didn’t betray you!" I shouted, my voice breaking under the weight of his accusation. "I went there to find out what he was planning, for you, for us—"His eyes darkened. "There is no 'us,' Naomi. There never was."The words hit me harder than I expected, but I lifted my chin, determined not to let him see the hurt. "That’
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 10: Crossfire
"You shouldn’t be here," Evan's voice was smooth, deceptively calm, as he leaned back in the dim corner of the upscale café. His steel-gray eyes flickered with dangerous amusement. "But I’m glad you came." I forced myself to sit across from him, my pulse thrumming in my ears. The air smelled faintly of roasted coffee and tension. "This isn't a social call, Evan." He smirked. "No pleasantries? Pity." His gaze sharpened. "What do you want, Naomi? Or are you here because you’ve finally realized Damian is a sinking ship?" I clenched my fists under the table. "You’re wrong about him." "Am I?" He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You think he cares about you? Please. Damian Cross only cares about two things—power and revenge. And trust me, you're just collateral damage." I swallowed the lump in my throat, refusing to let his words cut through my resolve. "I’m not here to debate Damian's character with you. I want answers." Evan's brows lifted. "Oh, this is rich.
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 9: The Offer
“You’re staying close to me,” Damian’s voice is cold, but there’s a firmness in it that makes my pulse quicken. I blink, taken aback. “What?” “I need you at the meeting today. I can’t afford any mistakes, and I can’t trust anyone else.” His gaze sharpens, making it clear there’s no room for negotiation. I feel my stomach tighten. This isn’t just about business—he’s keeping me close. His power is tangible, suffocating even. But there’s a part of me that wonders if this is more than strategy. “Fine,” I say, trying to hide the apprehension in my voice. I can’t believe this is my life now—standing by Damian Cross’s side, playing a game I don’t understand. He doesn’t respond but motions for me to follow him. As we enter the conference room, the atmosphere is thick with tension. Everyone’s eyes flick to me before quickly darting away. No one wants to be caught looking too interested in the woman who replaced Charlotte. Damian takes his seat at the head of the table, and I stan
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 8: Passion and Betrayal
"Explain yourself, Naomi!" Damian's voice is thunderous, rattling the walls around me as I stand frozen in the hidden room, the photograph of him and Charlotte clutched in my hand. My pulse races as my heart pounds against my ribcage, my breath coming in short gasps."You—" he stops himself, eyes darkening with fury, and then steps closer, his presence suffocating. "What the hell do you think you're doing in here?"I try to speak, but the words stick in my throat. The anger in his eyes is almost palpable, and yet, beneath it... there's something else, something raw and untamed. He doesn’t know what to do with that flicker of hesitation in my gaze. Neither do I."I—" I clear my throat, trying to steady myself. "I found this."I hold up the photograph, my hand shaking slightly. "You and Charlotte." The words come out harder than I intended, but they hang in the air between us, like a weight neither of us wants to acknowledge.His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I almost wish I hadn’t spo
BILLIONAIRE’S SECOND WIFE Chapter 7: Dangerous Alliances
“You shouldn’t be here,” a low voice warned from the shadows. I froze, the hallway dimly lit by the faint flicker of a wall sconce. My pulse raced as the figure stepped forward, revealing Olivia, Damian’s polished and ever-efficient assistant. Her usually composed expression was marred by tension. “Olivia?” I whispered, confused and wary. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask you the same thing,” she retorted, her eyes scanning the empty corridor. “But that’s not important right now. We need to talk—somewhere private.” Her urgency unsettled me. I glanced around, nervous that Damian or one of his guards might stumble upon us. Reluctantly, I gestured toward the library. “This way.” We slipped inside, and I closed the heavy door behind us. Olivia paced the room, her heels clicking against the polished floor. “What’s going on?” I demanded. “Why are you sneaking around the mansion like this?” She stopped pacing and fixed me with a piercing gaze. “Someone inside the company
